Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 231, 3 December 1904, Page 21

Total isator Turf Topics.

By the "Old 'Un."

THU locally - owned horse, Bono, ha^> at last been declaied tlie winner of the Great iNoithein. Guineas, in which race he niu&hed an easy iiist on the King's Birthday. A number of Wellington sportsmen, who follow the fortunes of their respective favourites, condemn the actio 1 of those "who take advantage of flimsy flaw* in the racing rules, and thus, delay the di&tubution of totahsator investments. B/aomg men aie awaie that a rnartiLiigale (w lnch is only four ounces in weight) is really a portion of the bridle, amd consists of a strap and a pan of rings*, all leference to which might very well have been left out of rule 103. Old-time i acing men oomsudered the winner of a race entitled to the stakes provided he carried his correct w eight and got first pa&t the judge's 1 box. but since some thirty gentlemen, from all over the colony, took a hand in amending old and framing new rules, it seems more, than the best legal talent of New Zealand can, do to decide who really is to be the recipient of the stakes offered as prizes by raicing clubs. Th Auckland handicaps are btill a fruitful topic of discussion in sporting circles. The handicapper's treatment of the bulk of the Yaildhunst horses is taken exception to by even the Auckland sporting pa ess. One writer there says • — "It will seem to many that the blot of the whole handicap is the harsh treatment dealt out. to the Yaldhuirst horses, and it would not be surpra&ing to find the whole of them scratched." While agreeing m the main with the Auckland writer, I credit Mr. Stead with being too erenuine a sport to withdraw the whole of his horses and I ■quite expect to find the. stable represented m the Cup and Railway Han dacap. Cruciform has a good burden to earn', but if at her best will tnve her backens a good run. Owing to the latter portion, of the Ellersbe racecourse being down-hill, he>avy -weighted horses have a better chance thain at Riocarton, where the course if*, dead level The following horses worn the Auckland Clip wth heavy imposts —In 1886. Nelson, 9st 81b ; 1887, Nelwn, 9st 121b 1803 Wairiki, 9st 81b. No othp.r horses havp won with over Sst 131b duriner the lost thirty years and the ouestion, is will Orucifonm become entitled to have her name bracketed with the above pair of eouine 1 enants. The Auckland-owned horse Blue Jacket, after winmine the Auckland Cup in 1899. with 7st 91b, was handicapped bv Mr. Bvitt to carry Bst 31b in the Cm> of 1900, and, for the second year. Blue Jacket easily secured the coveted stake It is n,o wonder that sportine critics a.re amazed to find the same handicapper allotting Bsf 71b to Golden KroVht, a three-year-old with a solitary maiden platp to his credit and conceding 91b to the winner of tho C J C 5. G' - e%t Autumn Handicap amid a number of other winners. * « « "Martin dale." m the Sydney "Town and Country Journal," writes that he has no doubt but that Sir Rupert Clarke will eventually get his Canteen pur-chase-money back. Soobie. Canteen's trainer, has- not yet had time to thoroughly understand the grey son of Castor. Mr. John Mayo, owner of Lord Cardigan, had virtually accepted am offer of £4000 for the son of Positano The offer was made on behalf of Mr. W. T.

Jones, who, it is undei stood, intended sending tlie horse to .England to try conclusions with the be^t on the English turf Mr. Sam Bradley, ownei of Wainki, when allied to put a puce on his hoise I3HOI- to the Melbourne Cup, named X..5000. Reoort says that Mr. Biadiev would not take £2000 foi the son of Soult even in his mjuied state The total sum paid away m stakes ovei the V.R.C spnug meetine amounted to £19,193. Acrawa's victory m the Cup brought Mi . H Oxenham £5132, and the latter, a populai Austiahan metal lieaan, is lenoitcd to ha\e won about £Ij,ooo in bets over his mare's Tin. Mahutonga lias reached Auckland. The Cup candidate's appeal ance and condition were favourably commented upon when his ti amer took him on to the Elleirhlie training tracks. The racing he went through at the Canterbuiy meeting has improved him considei ably, and thei son of Quilt should run well in his encasements. Sir Geo. (. ii did not nominate a lioise foi either the New Zealand or Auckland Cups this reason. It is stated that the Canteibury sportsman w ill take a fairly strong team to the Auckland summer meeting for the hanr dican races. It is safe to pi edict that Hewitt who rides for both Mr. G. G. Stead and Sit Geo. Clifford, will add considerably to his list of wiitsi during the A.R.C. meeting The New Zealand Cup< winner, Grand Rapids, has been shipped to Melbourne, awid 1 will become stable compa.mon to Murmur, the Caulfield Cup winner. Mention of the latter reminds me that his party considei ed the MeJbouine Cup a certainty for their horse had! he not gone wrong just before the iace. All going well, he would have started a very hot favourite for the big two-male handicap .